Wake Up and Smell the Cocoa

I love hot drinks, but many of my just-add-hot-water beverage mixes (including instant coffee) contain gluten. So, I've taken to drinking cocoa in the mornings, and it's probably a good thing too, because besides being gluten free, cocoa is pretty good for you.

Health Benefits of Unprocessed Cocoa

• Cocoa contains the flavanol, epicatechin, which is believed to lower the risk of stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes.
• Cocoa increases blood flow to the brain.
• Cocoa decreases blood pressure and improves circulation.
• Theobromine, found in cocoa, is a mood enhancer and stress reliever.

Above: Tigger likes cocoa too.